Fathom Entertainment's 35th anniversary rerelease of New Line Cinema's 1990 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles back into theaters has proven the enduring appeal of the pizza-loving, crime-fighting reptiles. The Steve Barron-directed film, which introduced the world to Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello in live-action glory, grossed an impressive $3.3 million in its first week back in theaters. Playing across approximately 1,300 screens including at AMV Theatres, the rerelease tapped into a wave of nostalgia for the franchise born from Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird's 1980s comic book. The strong performance has prompted a movie to add an additional week of screenings.

Now after a strong first weekend Deadline has reported that the run of the classic movie has been extended for a second weekend. You can also find the movie on Amazon HERE.

The original 1990 film was a cultural phenomenon, opening to $25.3 million and amassing a domestic total of $138.6 million during its initial run. Its success signaled the birth of a mega-franchise that has since expanded across films, television, and merchandise. The rerelease's robust turnout underscores the timeless draw of these martial arts-practicing turtles, who have remained beloved by both original fans and new audiences. Paramount, which later acquired the franchise, capitalized on its potential with a Michael Bay-directed live-action reboot in the 2010s and the 2023 animated feature Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. The latter pushed global retail merchandise sales to $1 billion in 2023 alone, a testament to the brand's commercial staying power.

Buoyed by the enthusiasm surrounding the 1990 film's rerelease, Fathom Entertainment, Saga Arts, and Warner Bros are now planning to bring the 1991 sequel, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, back to theaters in March 2026. The sequel, which introduced the villainous Tokka and Rahzar, opened to $20 million in 1991 and concluded its domestic run with $78.6 million. While not as explosive as the first film, it remains a fan favorite for its lighthearted tone and deeper dive into the turtles' origins. The decision to rerelease The Secret of the Ooze reflects confidence in the franchise's ability to draw crowds decades later.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has been a box office juggernaut, with its seven films collectively grossing $1.3 billion worldwide. However, not every entry matched the original's success. The third film, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III in 1993, opened to $12.4 million and ended with $42.2 million domestically, marking a decline that temporarily stalled the series. Despite this, the turtles have consistently reinvented themselves, from animated series to modern cinematic reboots, proving their resilience in pop culture.

As Fathom and its partners prepare for the Secret of the Ooze rerelease, anticipation is building for another round of turtle mania. The move signals a broader strategy to leverage nostalgia while keeping the franchise relevant for new generations. With their signature humor, action, and camaraderie, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continue to ride a wave of success, proving that heroes in a half-shell remain a force to be reckoned with.